Fire engulfs Keene rental cottage (update)

November 15, 2012

Flames engulfed a vacation rental cottage in Keene early this morning.

Officials with the Keene Volunteer Fire Department couldn't be reached for details about the blaze at 150 Gristmill Road as of press time, but the Lake Placid Volunteer Fire Department said it sent two trucks and seven members to assist at the scene. Lake Placid firefighters got the call at about 2:46 a.m. The Keene Valley Volunteer Fire Department also responded.

Cascade Cottage, which burned, is owned by David Griffin of Trails End Inn Inc. in Keene Valley.

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Cascade Cottage, owned by David Griffin of Trails End Inn Inc. in Keene Valley, burned this morning. Next to it is Blueberry Cottage, also owned by Griffin.(Photo — Martha Allen)

Cascade Cottage, owned by David Griffin of Trails End Inn Inc. in Keene Valley, burned this morning.(Photo — Martha Allen)

Cascade Cottage, owned by David Griffin of Trails End Inn Inc. in Keene Valley, burned this morning.(Photo — Martha Allen)

Keene town Supervisor Bill Ferebee said a couple was staying at the cottage with their dog.

"When I got there, they were out of the house," he said. "They said they didn't know what happened."

Ferebee said he was at the scene until about 4 o'clock this morning. Asked how much damage the fire caused, he said it was "pretty engulfed when I got there.

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"They may have saved a couple of the walls, maybe," Ferebee said, "but I don't think, the way it was going, that there's going to be much left of it."

Ferebee said he planned to check on the house again later this morning.

Lake Placid firefighters were back at their station at 6:24 a.m.

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Enterprise correspondent Martha Allen contributed to this report from Keene.